Resilient wheel



May 8, 1923.

- W. H. SMITH RES ILIEN'I' WHEEL Original Filed Jan. 26, 1922 Fla.

v Patented May 8, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE.

WILLIAM H. SMITH, F BRIDGEPOB'I', CONNECTICUT.

RESILIENT WHEEL.

Application filed January 26, 1922, Serial No. 531,960. Renewed October 7, 1922. Serial No. 593,122.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. SMITH, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Bridgeport, in. the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Resilient Wheels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved re- 1 silient wheel particularly of the kind used in connection with motor driven vehicles, especially trucks and the like, and an object of the invention is to provide a substitution for generally used pneumatic tires.

Another object involves the provision of a pair of rim members, one secured on the felly, and the other being pliable and spaced from and surrounding the first named rim member, resilient means being disposed between the two rim members, and rotating members being provided for the resilient means, said foregoing parts being so constructed as to withstand all lateral strains, as well as the strain created on the parts due to the driving connection between tread rim and the felly rim.

Still another object consists in the provision of means for retaining the resilient means in their necessary circumferential ar- 30 rangement with respect to the rim band and the tread band, in combination with means for holding the resilient means uniformly spaced and which latter means also acts as a circumferential driving medium between the springs and the rim band or members of the wheel.

With the above general objects in view and others that will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists of the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawing and claimed.

In the drawing, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view partly in section and partly in side elevation, of a resilient vehicle wheel constructed in accordance with the present invention,

' Figure 2 is a radial sectional view taken substantially upon line IIII of Fig. 1,

Figure 3 is a plan view of one of the spacin members or blocks employed in the wheel hown in Figs. 1 and 2, and

Figure 4 is an end elevational view of the spacing block shown in Fig. 3.

Referring more in detail to the several views, the present invention consists of a resilient wheel which may embody the usual radial spokes 5 connected to and surrounded by ,the usual wooden felly 6.

In accordance with the present invention, a rim band 7 is suitably fastened on the outer surface of the felly 6, preferably permanently, and this band is of slightly greater width than the felly 6 so that said band 7 extends slightly beyond the side faces of the felly at each side as shown clearly in Fig. 2. A resilient flexible tread rim or band 8 is arranged in spaced relation to the band 7 and surrounds the latter as shown clearly in Figs. '1 and 2, said tread band being preferably provided with a solid cushion tread member or tire tread 9 of rubber or the like. The tread member 9 may be placed on the tread rim 8 in such manner as to be capable of being renewed from tim to time when found necessary, and the two rims 7 and 8 are of substantially the same width.

The rim members 7 and 8 are normally yieldingly held in concentric relation by means of a series of spring elements, each of which preferably consists in a pair of concentric helical springs 10 and 11 radially arranged so as to abut the inner face of the rim 8 and the outer fa e of the rim 7 as shown in Figs 1 and 2. The spring elements consisting of the springs 10 and 11 are preferably uniformly spaced about the circumference of the rim 7 and the outer spring 11 of each spring element is preferably formed of larger diameter wire than the inner spring 10 thereof.

The rim 8 is provided with a plurality of inwardly directed studs 12, each of which is disposed to project into the outer end of the inner spring 10 of one spring element as shown in Fig. 1, and these studs are preferably removable by being threaded into suitable openings provided in said tread rim 8. The heads of the studs 12 are preferably tapered so that the springs may flex in all directions without obstruction and at the same time the engagement of the spring 10 with the heads of the studs 12 insure a sufiiciently positive driving connection to prevent displacement of the spring elements.

A plurality of spacingblocks' 13 are disposed upon the outer surface of the inner rim 7 as shown in Fig. 1, and these blocks are provided with semi-circular cutouts as at 14; in the opposite ends thereof so that when the blocks are placed upon the rim in endv to end relation, substantially circular sockets are provided into which the-inner ends of the spring elements project. The

blocks 13 arerpreferably provided with V,-

shaped inner surfaces as at 15 so that said blocks-will'res't' upon the: outer surface of the inner rim"? substantially at the ends thereof-only and in this'way rocking of the blocksispreveiited. The blocks 13 are held against circumferential movement by means 'ofrd'owel pins 16" which are suitably fastened in sockets provided? centrally "ofthe"innerfaces of .the'blocks 13, and which project 1 into'suitable openings provided in the inner rim 'Z'asat 17. "It will thus be seen that the spring elements are effectively connected to ments."

the "innerand 'outer rims so "as to provide a drlvmg connection and to prevent relative displacement of the rims and the spring ele- An annular guide flange 18 is provided at eachrsideofthe rim so as to close the space between thetwo rim'sfor. the exclusion of dust" and the like, and as will presently appear, to form a guide-so as to prevent lateral displacement of the outer rim 8.' The guide flanges 7181 are effectively rigidly connectedto theinner rim? "and spacer blocks 13 by 'means of'r'transverse" bolts '19 which "pass through"suitableopenings insaid blocks and the guide flanges 18, the guideflanges being'effectively secured against the side edges of'the innerP'rim -7"and the blocks 13 and '18: "slidably engage-the side edges of the fixedi'thereto. llnithe normal position ofthe parts, theouter margins of the guide flanges outer'rim Siso that inward movement of the outerrim 8 will be permitted while lateral displacement ofsaidrim will be effectively prevented. i In order tomake the structure asli'ghtas poss'ible,-'the guide flanges 18 are necessarily formed from relatively thin material, "and in" order that said. guide flanges may' be effectively bolted in position, the bolts 19 pass through suitable openings pro disposed againstthe outer faces of the'guide flanges, 18,-the heads of: the bolts 19 being countersunk-in the outer surfaceofithe ring 20;and'theloppositeends of said bolts beingthreaded'vinto theopenings of the ring 21.

' ByTthiscoIistruction therbolts have noprojectingzportions and the rings 20 and 21 pref-1 erably haveptheir: outer surfaces rounded-for effectively preventing damage by'engzigementrqf the same with acurb'or the like;

By vi'ewingFigL1re'1 ,it will be noted? that the "blocks? :maybe, slightly spaced and as the blocks-are: placed'u-pon the circular rim 7 athersoc'ketsPwhich receive the spring' elemercial use.

ments and which are produced by the opposed cutouts 14 have their; walls inwardly converging so as to permit slight'lateral play of the spring elements in all directions whereby effective spring action is obtained.

In operation, the" rim 8 will flex at that portion of the same which is adjacent the ground when the load is placed upon the wheel, and the adjacent spring element will resist such displacement of the rim as takes place to such an extent as to give'the action usually accomplished by theordinary form a of pneumatic tire. It war be readily seen spirit andscope thereof {is-claimed:

' hat is claimed as new is '1; In a' resilient 'wheel, arim adapted to be fastened upon 'a' felly, a tread rim spaced? from "and surrounding, said first named rim, 'a series or spring elements interposed between the rims and; "normally maintaining the same in concentric relation, said 'spring' elements each including a pair of concentric radially arranged: helical springs, plurality of spacing zblocksxarranged upon the outer surface of the inner rim, said spacing blocks being. providedv "with opposite semi-cylindrical cutouts in the ends thereof forming,substantially: cylindrical pockets which receive the inner'ends of said spring elements, annular. guide flanges closing the space between said rims and having their 'outer marginsf'slidably engaging the side; edges of; the tread? rim, means 'engagingvthe inner" rim and carried by said blocksfor preventing:circumferen tial creeping of the, blocks, and removable means for rigidly fasteningsaid' annular guide flanges against 'the sidei'edges of'the inner rim and said 'spacing blocksz" 2. ln a'resilient wheeh'a' pairxof rims, spring elements interposed between said rims and normally. maintaining the same in: spaced concentric relation, and spacing blocks forsaid springvelenients each having semi-cylindrical cutouts in the ends of the same whereby adj acent spacing blocks form substantially cylindrical pockets. receiving the inner endswoftsaid spring elements,lsaid i'nner'f rim carrying a plurality :of openings,

and dowel pi'ns'carried by' said-'blocks: 'and-= removably engaging in said openings of the inner rim.

In a resilient wheel, a pair of rims, spring elements interposed between said rims and normally maintaining the same in spaced concentric relation, spacing blocks for said spring elements each having semicylindrical cutouts in the ends of the same whereby adjacent spacing blocks form substantially cylindrical pockets receiving the inner ends of said spring elements, said inner rim carrying a plurality of openings, dowel pins carried by said blocks and removably engaging in. said openings of the inner rim, annular guise flanges disposed against the side edges of said rims and spacing blocks, said guide flanges slidably engaging the side edges of the outer rim, and removable bolts passing through said guide flanges and said spacing blocks.

4. In a resilient Wheel, a pair of rims, spring elements interposed between said rims and normally maintaining the same in spaced concentric relation, spacing blocks for said spring elements each having semicylindrical cutouts in theends of the same whereby adjacent spacing blocks form substantially cylindrical pockets receiving the inner ends of said spring elements, said inner rim carrying a plurality of openings, dowel pins carried by said blocks and removably engaging in said openings of the inner rim, annular guide flanges disposed against the side edges f said rims and spacing blocks, said guide flanges slidably engaging the side edges of the outer rim,

removable bolts passing through said guide flanges and said spacing blocks, and annular rings engaging the outer surfaces of said annular guide flanges, the bolts passing through one of said rings having their heads countersunk therein, and the bolts having their other ends threaded into the other ring.

In a resilient wheel, a pair of rims, spring elements interposed between said rims and normally maintaining the same in spaced concentric relation, spacing blocks for said spring elements each having semieylindrical cutouts in the ends of the same whereby adjacent spacing blocks form substantially cylindrical pockets receiving the inner ends of said spring elements, said inner rim carrying a plurality of openings, dowel pins carried by said blocks and removably engaging in said openings of the inner rim, annular guide flanges disposed against the side edges of said rims and spacing blocks, said guide flanges slidably engaging the side edges of the outer rim, removable bolts passing through said guide flanges and said spacing blocks, annular rings engaging the outer surfaces of said annular guide flanges, the bolts passing through one of said rings having their heads countersunk therein, and the bolts having their other ends threaded into the other ring, and removable radial inwardly ex tending studs carried by the outer rim and telescoping into said spring elements.

In testimony whereof aflix my signature.

WILLIAM H. SMITH. 

